Creation of boot disk for format

heffa255 · 04-12-2005, 03:13 AM

Just started my first perminant Job on monday, very realieved and happy! My title is Junior Field Service Techy so yeah im really happy. However came across a problem today..
was trying to create a boot disk so i could reformat some hard drives in some old win2000 pro machines..
what i did is as follows:
Created a MS DOS startup disk using XP
Copied Format.com from the system32 directory

I was under the impression that this is all that was needed however it boots to DOS ok but when trying to run format it says its not able to run it through this operating system.

boss suggested it may have been that i got the format.com from a different OS of which i did but the one through XP did the same thing..

I've tried to look up and see what im doing wrong but i seem to be doing the right things and i cant seem to find a clear explaination of exactly what to do.
Any help would be good! Maybe a site where i can learn this?

101 · 04-12-2005, 04:52 AM

Quick solution: if you only want to format the drives, download a boot disk creator for Win98/ME from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

johnwill · 04-12-2005, 10:40 AM

Boot the 2K CD, it'll allow you to format and partition hard disks.

ICFire · 04-12-2005, 11:22 AM

I'm old skool and I like to zero write my hdd before starting over with a new install.

Most mfr hdd utils have this capability.

heffa255 · 04-12-2005, 02:21 PM

thanks 101 i'll check that out
could have put in the win2000 cd but just wanted a boot disk that i could chuck in boot up and leave...

heffa255 · 04-12-2005, 02:29 PM

That worked great 101. Got a fdisk and format.com on there so hopefully when i get to the office it will be all good!
well i better be heading off to work
thanks again!

04-12-2005, 03:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
heffa255 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 71 OS: XP sp2	Creation of boot disk for format Just started my first perminant Job on monday, very realieved and happy! My title is Junior Field Service Techy so yeah im really happy. However came across a problem today.. was trying to create a boot disk so i could reformat some hard drives in some old win2000 pro machines.. what i did is as follows: Created a MS DOS startup disk using XP Copied Format.com from the system32 directory I was under the impression that this is all that was needed however it boots to DOS ok but when trying to run format it says its not able to run it through this operating system. boss suggested it may have been that i got the format.com from a different OS of which i did but the one through XP did the same thing.. I've tried to look up and see what im doing wrong but i seem to be doing the right things and i cant seem to find a clear explaination of exactly what to do. Any help would be good! Maybe a site where i can learn this? __________________ Aussie (That is, Australian ;)) through and through! Ularoo (That is, Ayers Rock), AC/DC, Australian Football Leage, and Bundaberg Rum! Football is played with an Oval ball! Last edited by heffa255 : 04-12-2005 at 03:20 AM.

04-12-2005, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 30,227 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Boot the 2K CD, it'll allow you to format and partition hard disks. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-12-2005, 02:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
heffa255 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 71 OS: XP sp2	thanks 101 i'll check that out could have put in the win2000 cd but just wanted a boot disk that i could chuck in boot up and leave... __________________ Aussie (That is, Australian ;)) through and through! Ularoo (That is, Ayers Rock), AC/DC, Australian Football Leage, and Bundaberg Rum! Football is played with an Oval ball!

04-12-2005, 02:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
heffa255 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 71 OS: XP sp2	That worked great 101. Got a fdisk and format.com on there so hopefully when i get to the office it will be all good! well i better be heading off to work thanks again! __________________ Aussie (That is, Australian ;)) through and through! Ularoo (That is, Ayers Rock), AC/DC, Australian Football Leage, and Bundaberg Rum! Football is played with an Oval ball!

04-12-2005, 04:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
101 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 126 OS: 2k Pro	Quick solution: if you only want to format the drives, download a boot disk creator for Win98/ME from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

04-12-2005, 11:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
ICFire Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bloomington, Indiana Posts: 263 OS: XP Pro	I'm old skool and I like to zero write my hdd before starting over with a new install. Most mfr hdd utils have this capability.